Continuing Saga of cowork in small towns
Niki
I'm trying to connect with people in the small town (13,000) people where my business is located. I am in the downtown district and joined the Chamber when I first came to town. Asked them on several occasions if they would like to cosponsor educational forums, but was "politely told" that they did their own programs and weren't interested.
I then asked to be part of the downtown merchant's association and was told that for $100 a month, they would be happy to allow me entrance into the "club". I couldn't afford it. I have on a couple of occasions said I'd be part of a particular marketing event, but haven't got the money to do a lot of things with them and because I am NOT retail, I don't fit into a lot of their marketing ideas.
Today, I sent an email asking the director of the DMA to post this offer to the group: the conversation follows (my email to him):
It is so important to support each other in the “Buy Local” arena, that I want to offer something to the other businesses in Three Rivers. At Business Success Unlimited we have a table that provides handouts of members of the group to the public that comes into the Center. I want to open this up to the business owners of Three Rivers. If you would like to bring in coupons of any sort from your organization (i.e., buy one get one free, 10% off, etc.) I will be happy to hand them out to anyone who comes in. I have a welcome package that we give to prospective members, and this would be a great way to share your products/services with others, while helping me provide my members with value added benefits to the Center. Any takers? Thanks, in advance.
His response:
Nancy ~ I feel that you will obtain more credibility from your neighbors in Historic Downtown if you are involved in The Three Rivers Merchant Group more so.
I pass the info along that you send me to the TR Merchant Group AND others….BUT with more involvement, like the Billboard Sponsorship, your name will be ON the Billboard for $100 investment, OR any other type of sponsorships you deem fit for your organization.
Collaboratively thinking!
I am furious -- but is it justified? Am I too close to the forest to see
the trees? How do I respond to this? What else (other than spend LOTS
of money with them, when in the year I've been there, I've not gotten a
cent from this group of people who have never bothered to come in, say
hi, "kiss my **!", or anything. I have offered to give them free
marketing time to be in a video I'm making on my business and on the
town. I was going to give them time to intro themselves and their
business in the video that would then be put on YouTube, etc. Not one
person even responded. So -- what do I do? My business has the potential
to help people and in other places has done exceedingly well. I just
can't get these people to open their minds. Thoughts?
Joshua Marpet
Breathe. Remember, people do what you pay them to. The Three Rivers Merchant Association is in "Business" to make money. Business. As in, pay us to get anything done.
I would go to every store individually and offer them coupon space. Call up the Welcome Wagon. Ask them if they want to put a display out. Call Val-Pak.
co-sponsoring. Do you have a local county college? Ask them to co-sponsor. Ask if you can become a satellite campus. Hold a bake sale to benefit a local popular charity.
Let Weight Watchers meet in your place one night a week.
Find the local Linux Users Group, OWASP chapter, ISSA, ISACA, any computer related organization, and offer them meeting space.
Find the local FBI and Secret Service Field offices, and offer Infragard and ECTF meeting space. (I am affiliated with both, feel free to call if you need help.)
Hell, hold D&D gaming nights.
Keep trying different things till you find some people who fit your community, or till you find people who help to create and change your community. Keep them. :)
Good luck.
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Niki
Nancy
Veel Hoeden- Where Many Hats Meet!
I feel your pain being a space in a town of 10,000. I can tell you that although in theory the Chamber should be your closest ally, not all of them have that kind of foresight. It may be time to go "black ops". But before you go buy a ninja suit, let me explain.
I'm finding that although business join the Chamber or other merchant associations, their reasoning for doing so is grounded in the hope that it will work, that it will actually bring more sales or business to them. This is sometimes the case, but not always so. But many of them, being retail spaces in very traditional markets don't have anywhere else to go. So they sock money into the organizations and hang up "buy local" posters hoping at some point it will all work out. But often they see it more as a community duty or a "hope for the best" effort instead of a true plan for success.
That's where you come in. You can position yourself as free or inexpensive partner to a) help their business and b) cross promote your efforts. Start small. Pick one business you really think you could work with. Then go talk to them, explain your thoughts, and see what they are willing to try with you. That may mean handing out their coupons or displaying a certain product they only sell, but make it something that both helps them and something where they think they get MORE value from what they have to give. Fill a gap the associations don't fill, or just be more personal in how you fill it. Learn their business well enough that you can sell them to people you meet (and refer them). Become the underground Chamber for them. So what do they give?
Information. Tell them what you do. Who you serve. How you help businesses and freelancers. Invite them over to your space for coffee. Show them what it is like to work there and why you rock. Then ask 2 questions. 1) Do you know anyone that may be interested in our space? 2) Would you be willing to pass on info about us to those you meet going forward if you here they have needs we can meet.
Then wait. Not for long, but long enough, and drop in on them sometime and see how things are going. Let them know what you have done for them and ask them if they have met anyone you should talk to. Then listen.
Not enough bites? Choose business #2, shampoo, rinse, and repeat. Choose different types of businesses, different types of store owners (gender, age, interests). Find one that isn't interested, or even upset, that you are doing an "end around" on the Chamber? Politely apologize and explain that is not your intent and that you really just want to find ways you can tangibly support them. Then move on.
Do this enough and people will start getting the word out to others about what you do. You may even get some real champions that see the value you provide in the community and are willing to go to bat for you with the Chamber or elsewhere. But always, always, always give more than you receive. (See the book, "The Go-Giver" for a great example of this.)
And before anyone labels me anti-Chamber, I am not. I think they have value in communities where they work for the businesses they serve versus collect memberships and hold the status quo.
Thanks & God Bless,
Joel Bennett
Chief Dreamchaser
Veel Hoeden
Join Us on Facebook!
--
Niki
Andrea Cook
Supporter of the noble game changers and life enhancers through social media marketing. Also a pioneer, coach, editor, cowork owner and consultant for hire. Services vary, Live Event Correspondent services preferred. www.EventCorrespondent.com
I feel your pain being a space in a town of 10,000. I can tell you that although in theory the Chamber should be your closest ally, not all of them have that kind of foresight. It may be time to go "black ops". But before you go buy a ninja suit, let me explain.I'm finding that although business join the Chamber or other merchant associations, their reasoning for doing so is grounded in the hope that it will work, that it will actually bring more sales or business to them. This is sometimes the case, but not always so. But many of them, being retail spaces in very traditional markets don't have anywhere else to go. So they sock money into the organizations and hang up "buy local" posters hoping at some point it will all work out. But often they see it more as a community duty or a "hope for the best" effort instead of a true plan for success.That's where you come in. You can position yourself as free or inexpensive partner to a) help their business and b) cross promote your efforts. Start small. Pick one business you really think you could work with. Then go talk to them, explain your thoughts, and see what they are willing to try with you. That may mean handing out their coupons or displaying a certain product they only sell, but make it something that both helps them and something where they think they get MORE value from what they have to give. Fill a gap the associations don't fill, or just be more personal in how you fill it. Learn their business well enough that you can sell them to people you meet (and refer them). Become the underground Chamber for them. So what do they give?Information. Tell them what you do. Who you serve. How you help businesses and freelancers. Invite them over to your space for coffee. Show them what it is like to work there and why you rock. Then ask 2 questions. 1) Do you know anyone that may be interested in our space? 2) Would you be willing to pass on info about us to those you meet going forward if you here they have needs we can meet.Then wait. Not for long, but long enough, and drop in on them sometime and see how things are going. Let them know what you have done for them and ask them if they have met anyone you should talk to. Then listen.Not enough bites? Choose business #2, shampoo, rinse, and repeat. Choose different types of businesses, different types of store owners (gender, age, interests). Find one that isn't interested, or even upset, that you are doing an "end around" on the Chamber? Politely apologize and explain that is not your intent and that you really just want to find ways you can tangibly support them. Then move on.Do this enough and people will start getting the word out to others about what you do. You may even get some real champions that see the value you provide in the community and are willing to go to bat for you with the Chamber or elsewhere. But always, always, always give more than you receive. (See the book, "The Go-Giver" for a great example of this.)And before anyone labels me anti-Chamber, I am not. I think they have value in communities where they work for the businesses they serve versus collect memberships and hold the status quo.Thanks & God Bless,Joel BennettChief DreamchaserVeel HoedenJoin Us on Facebook!
From: cowo...@googlegroups.com [mailto:cowo...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Niki
Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 3:04 PM
To: cowo...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Coworking] Continuing Saga of cowork in small townsI'm trying to connect with people in the small town (13,000) people where my business is located. I am in the downtown district and joined the Chamber when I first came to town. Asked them on several occasions if they would like to cosponsor educational forums, but was "politely told" that they did their own programs and weren't interested.
I then asked to be part of the downtown merchant's association and was told that for $100 a month, they would be happy to allow me entrance into the "club". I couldn't afford it. I have on a couple of occasions said I'd be part of a particular marketing event, but haven't got the money to do a lot of things with them and because I am NOT retail, I don't fit into a lot of their marketing ideas.
Today, I sent an email asking the director of the DMA to post this offer to the group: the conversation follows (my email to him):
It is so important to support each other in the “Buy Local” arena, that I want to offer something to the other businesses in Three Rivers. At Business Success Unlimited we have a table that provides handouts of members of the group to the public that comes into the Center. I want to open this up to the business owners of Three Rivers. If you would like to bring in coupons of any sort from your organization (i.e., buy one get one free, 10% off, etc.) I will be happy to hand them out to anyone who comes in. I have a welcome package that we give to prospective members, and this would be a great way to share your products/services with others, while helping me provide my members with value added benefits to the Center. Any takers? Thanks, in advance.
His response:Nancy ~ I feel that you will obtain more credibility from your neighbors in Historic Downtown if you are involved in The Three Rivers Merchant Group more so.
I pass the info along that you send me to the TR Merchant Group AND others….BUT with more involvement, like the Billboard Sponsorship, your name will be ON the Billboard for $100 investment, OR any other type of sponsorships you deem fit for your organization.
Collaboratively thinking!
I am furious -- but is it justified? Am I too close to the forest to see the trees? How do I respond to this? What else (other than spend LOTS of money with them, when in the year I've been there, I've not gotten a cent from this group of people who have never bothered to come in, say hi, "kiss my **!", or anything. I have offered to give them free marketing time to be in a video I'm making on my business and on the town. I was going to give them time to intro themselves and their business in the video that would then be put on YouTube, etc. Not one person even responded. So -- what do I do? My business has the potential to help people and in other places has done exceedingly well. I just can't get these people to open their minds. Thoughts?--
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Jeannine
I know. I really know, as I started my space as an immigrant. Try
your situation only you don't speak or write the language all that
well. :-)
The best thing I did had nothing to do with my space. I offered my
services as Stage Manager to a local theater group. And also let them
have director's meetings and rehearsals when push came to shove in the
space.
Number one, theater groups can get the word out like *nothing you have
ever seen* if they feel like it. Number two, the producer knew this
guy see, and he knew this other guy, dig. And before you know it, I
became the first American ever (as far as we know anyway) to be
embraced by a Dutch Carnaval Crewe. Well, they don't call them that.
They call them some impronounceable Dutch thing. But you get the
idea.
It's a long term thing and it is very frustrating. You have to make
your bones and the local Chamber (or whomever) wants you to think that
you can do this by just signing up. While this is possible, it is
unlikely. One way to find out is, as has already been suggested, to go
meet the neighbors.
One of the first things I did here was a "get your car washed"
promotion. You could come here and work and the nice man fromt he car
wash would take your car away dirty and bring it back clean for one
flat price, which we split. I negotiated the terms while my car was in
the car wash one Saturday. :-) This works well in a climate where
there is snow and sand and salt on the undercarriage of course, but it
could work well in general.
In general, don't approach people in a group. Herds tend to huddle.
Try to do it one on one.
Laters,
Jeannine
On Apr 25, 10:04 pm, Niki <sweetandshyn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to connect with people in the small town (13,000) people where
> my business is located. I am in the downtown district and joined the
> Chamber when I first came to town. Asked them on several occasions if they
> would like to cosponsor educational forums, but was "politely told" that
> they did their own programs and weren't interested.
>
> I then asked to be part of the downtown merchant's association and was told
> that for $100 a month, they would be happy to allow me entrance into the
> "club". I couldn't afford it. I have on a couple of occasions said I'd be
> part of a particular marketing event, but haven't got the money to do a lot
> of things with them and because I am NOT retail, I don't fit into a lot of
> their marketing ideas.
>
> Today, I sent an email asking the director of the DMA to post this offer to
> the group: the conversation follows (my email to him):
>
> Business Success Unlimited we have a table that provides handouts of
> members of the group to the public that comes into the Center. I want to
> open this up to the business owners of Three Rivers. If you would like to
> bring in coupons of any sort from your organization (i.e., buy one get one
> free, 10% off, etc.) I will be happy to hand them out to anyone who comes
> in. I have a welcome package that we give to prospective members, and this
> would be a great way to share your products/services with others, while
> helping me provide my members with value added benefits to the Center. Any
>
> *
> *His response:
>
> *Nancy ~ I feel that you will obtain more credibility from your neighbors
>
> * I pass the info along that you send me to the TR Merchant Group AND
> name will be ON the Billboard for $100 investment, OR any other type of
>
> * Collaboratively thinking!*
>
> *
> * I am furious -- but is it justified? Am I too close to the forest to see
Anca Mosoiu
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-=-=-=-
Veel Hoeden- Where Many Hats Meet!
Andrea- I know you were struggling with this when we met in Austin, and as much as I'd like to preach perseverance, sometimes ideas come just a bit early to our small towns, sometimes a bit too late, and sometimes the people there just never come around at all. That said, I've become so much more a believer in breaking down the problem into digestible chunks when dealing with small town issues. The fewer people you deal with the better. Solve a problem for an individual, big or small, then see what traction you get. Gain a fan...then 2...then 4. Sooner or later you start growing.
Regardless, some towns grow more thorns than flowers. In that case, a change of gardens may be in order. :)
Niki
Nancy